Acetylene-gas apparatus.



No, 627,499. Patented lune 27, 1899. J. N. GOLDBACHEB & E. BOURNONVILLE. ACETYLENE GAS- APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 10, I898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

. W/T ES: INVENTORS Jbse a hfl I Goldbacclger Eugene fiourlzolzudle BY w a(;%/ ATTORNEY.

m: "cams pzrzas co, PNOTO-LIYHQ, wAswNGToM, u. c

No. 627,499. Patented June 27, I899.

J. N. GOLDBACHER & E BOURNONVILLE. AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 10, 1898.) fl e 3 Sheets$heot 2.

WEE.

WITNESSES //v VENTOHS M 64 026 Galdbaclzer M W Eugene Bozuvzorwz'lle ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATE i PATEN FFICE.

JOSEPH N. GOLDBAOHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND EUGENE BOURNON- VILLE, OFJERSEY CITY, NE\V JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,499, dated June 27, 1899.

Application filed Octnber 1 0 1 8 9 8;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that w'e,*J0sEPH N..GOLD- BACHER, residing at New'York, in the county and State of New York, and EUGENE BOUR- NONVILLE, residing. at Jersey City, in the. county of Hudson andState of New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have inventedf certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. J

The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing acetylene gas; and it consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Our invention is presented in this application in an apparatus comprising a generatortank containing water, a gasometerreceiving the gas from said tank, means operable from the gasometer for feeding charges of the carbid to the said tank, and an outlet-pipe for gas from the gasometer; and the purpose of our invention is to improve such. apparatus, as a whole and also in its details.

Our invention pertains more particularly to novel automatic means for feeding the charges of carbid to the generator-tank, to means intermediate the gasometer and the feed-wheel whereby the latter at the proper. time and to the proper extent is actuated by the movement of the gasometer, to novel features hereinafter described pertaining to the generator-tank,and means for controlling and delivering the gasfrorn the generator-tank to the gasometer, and to novel features whereby the attendant may withdraw the water and deposits from the generator-tank without interfering with the continued use of the apparatus. v 1

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter present ed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofan apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. Fig.1? is a detached vertical section of a seal-box or safety-governor connected with the outlet-pipe for gas from the gasometer. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same. Fig. 2 is a detached top view of a horizontal partition I),

.t'aken. view of a water seal or trap through which the generated gas must'pass on its way from the a generator to'the gasometer, and Fig. 5 is aver- -tical transverse section of same on the dotted Serial N... 693,12 (No model.)

forming a part of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a top View, partlyin section and partly broken away, of same, this figure indicating by the dotted line 2 2 the section on which Fig. 2 is Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached top line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, A designates the exterior shell or casing of the apparatus, which casing is in substantially two sections (lettered B C, respectively) and connected together on the lineD, (see Fig. 2,) whereby the water with-- in which the gas is generated is enabled to occupy substantially the whole of the section B and aportion of the section 0.

The casing A constitutes a generator-tank, into which the water is poured through the funnel E and pipe F, and a portion of which tank is partitioned off by the plates G and H to form an auxiliary tank I to receive the gasometer J and the water lettered K, which is entirely separated from the water in the main tank and is employed as a seal for the gasometer J. The gasometer J is of customary form,constru ction,and'opera tion and is adapt ed to have a vertical reciprocating movement within the auxiliary tank I. The Water K employed for sealing the gasometer J is never in communication with the water in the main tank A and is supplied to the tank I by being poured into the upper end of the latter.

The bottom of the section C is substantially hat, and the lower. end of the section B is in the form of an inverted cone, and the outlet therefrom is controlled by a Valve L, which -when opened will permit of the escape of the water from the tank A and all sediment and waste products which may have accumulated within the said tank A. Upon the flat bottom of the section G is provided the scraperblade M, to which is connected'a wheel or handle N and which by means of the said handle or wheel N may be given a revoluble motion over the said bottom for the purpose of loosening the waste products therefrom and causing them to pass into the cone-shaped outlet portion of the section B.

W'ithin the auxiliary tank I is provided the vertical cylinder P, which extends upward from the partition H to within a short distance below the upper edges of the section 0 and is provided upon its upper end with a layer of filtering media Q, confined between perforated or porous plates, cloths, or housings R R. The cylinder P is less in diameter than the diameter of the gasometer J, and said gasometer passes downward over said cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The upper end of the cylinder P will always be above the water-level in the auxiliary tank I. The partition 11 below the cylinder P is open, as at S, and through this opening in the manner hereinafterdescribed the generated gas passes u pward to within the cylinder P, and thence passes through the filtering media Q and into the gasometer J.

The calcium carbid is fed to the section B of the casing A through the chute T, which is located adjacent to the upper portion of said section B and has its delivery end considerably below the water-level in said casin g A. The chute T communicates with the interior of the section B, and hence becomes substantially filled with the water, and said chute at its lower end, which projects into the section B, comprises the opposite sides \V and downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom V, upon which the calcium carbid will fall and which will direct said carbid inward to a proper extent within the section B. The sides W of the lower end of the chute T are led high enough to prevent the passage of any gas into the chute T and are not connected within the section 13 except by the aforesaid inclined bottom V and by an outwardly and downwardly inclined plate X, whose purpose is to deflect inward any ascending gas which in the absence of said plate mightbe inclined to pass out through the chute. Such portion of gas as may pass into the lower end of the chute T below and outward beyond the lower edge of the plate W will pass upward through the open space a left between the outer vertical wall of the section B and the upper edge of the plate W.

lVithin the upper portion of the section B and at the height desired 1' or the water-level therein is provided the horizontal partition I),

whose edge adjacent to the chute T is turned connection with the adjacent side wall of the section B, forms a receptacle which will hold water sufiicient to at all times maintain the water seal, and particularly during such periods as the water may be withdrawn from the casing A. The generated gas passes to the upper side of the horizontal partition I), and hence when the water for any reason is withdrawn from the casing A the quantity of water held by the deflecting-plate (I will be suflicient to prevent the downward passage of the gas from the upper to the lower side of the partition I), and thus the water may be withdrawn from the casing A and the latter cleansed without danger of the escape of the gas with the water and without interfering with the continued use of the gas within the gasometer J.

The lower edges of the deflecting-plate c are preferably serrated to the more thoroughly dilfuse the gas passing through the water seal 6 on its way to the upper end of the section B, and thereby prevent flickering at the burners. The horizontal partition I) is wrapped close around and above the inner protruding end of the valvef, which is on the line of the water-level within the section B and which when opened during the filling of the generator-tank with water will permit the escape of all of the air from below the partition I), and thus the formation of an air-cushion below said partition is prevented. The air-Vent valve fis clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and during the filling of the generator-tank with water this outlet-valve will be opened and the water poured into the generator-tank through the funnel E and pipe F. lVhen the water is escaping through the valve f, it will be an indication to the operator that the water has reached its proper level within the generatortank, and thereupon he will close the valvef and cease to pour waterin to the funnel E. The horizontal partition I) is provided with the downwardly-extending pipe g, whose lower end is curved upward, and the purpose of this pipeis to permita circulation of the water from the upper to the lower side of the horizontal partition Z) when due to excess of pressure or other cause such circulation is desired. The upwardly-turned lower end of the pipe (1 forms a water seal and will hold sufficient water to prevent under usual conditions the downward escape of the gas through said pipe 9 when the main body of watcris being withdrawn from the casingAduring the cleansing of the latter.

Upon the section B of the main casingAis secured the dome h, within which the generated gas passes and from which said gas finds its outlet through the pipe 2', which extends downward from within the dome 7b to the trap j, which is secured to the lower side of the partition 11 and at its upper end is entirely open and in line with the opening S at the base of the cylinder P. The construction of the trapj is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, in which it will be seen that said trap is in the general form of an oblong receptacle containing a definite supply of water and having secured therein the elongated frame 70, which forms a gas-chamber, into which the pipe 1' directly leads, and which chamber is sealed around its lower edges with the water within said trap j, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The frame It is of metal and secured to the trap j, and the sides of this frame is are serrated, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the gas which passes into the chamber formed by the frame may when escaping around the lower edges of the said frame be diffused by its contact with the serrations at the lower edges of the said sides. The gas which passes from the pipe 2' into the chamber formed by the frame 70 will pass below the serrated edges of the sides of said frame 7r, and then ascend through the water held by the trap j, and thence pass upward through the opening S into the cylinder P, whence it will pass through the filtering media Q and into the gasometer J. The trap j is provided with the pipe m, having the valve 7%, plug 0, and seal 19, the latter being formed by giving the pipe the downwardly-extending U form shown in Fig. 2. When the plug 0 is removed from the pipe m, the water for the trap j may be poured into the pipe 0 and be by it directed to the trap j. When it is desired to empty the water from the trap j, this will be accomplished by opening the valve n and tilting the apparatus in a proper direction. By opening the valve a at any time any surplus of water arising from condensation or other cause within the trap j will escape and the proper water-level within said trap be reached.

The gaspasses fromthe gasometerJ through the pipe q, as shown in Fig. 2, to the nozzle 0", (shown in Fig. 1,) to which nozzle the customary pipe or tube leading to the burners may be applied in a well-known manner. The pipe g at a pointexterior to the casing A is connected with the safety seal valve-box or governor F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1; but since this safety seal-box F is embodied in our pending application, Serial No. 670,747, filed February 18, 1898, it is not made a subject of the present application.

The calcium carbid may be fed to the chute T in any suitable manner; but a part of the present invention pertains to the means illustrated in the drawingsfor effecting an automatic feeding of the carbid to'the chute '1 in proper regulated quantities and through the instrumentality of mechanism connected with and influenced by the movement of the gasometer J. In accordance with this portion of our invention an inelosing frame 8 is applied to the upper end of the chute T, and within this frame 8 is mounted upon the horizontal shaft 25 the feed-wheel to, which is directly below the downwardlyand outwardlyinclined wall 00 of the hopper A, into which the calcium'carbid in bulk will be placed.' The inner wall B of the frame 3 conforms to the circular outline of the feed-wheel w and connects with the downwardly and outwardly inclined wall as of the hopper A at a point above and slightly to, oneside of the vertical center of the wheel w, and thus the calcium carbid descending from the hopper A is directed to the upper side of the wheel w, as

shown in Fig. 2, and is prevented from passing between the aforesaid wall B and the adjacent surfaces of the said wheel. .The frame 3 extends above the wheel 10, and its upper end C connects with the outer vertical side of the hopperA at a pointdirectlyabove the wheel to, whereby there is formed an opening from the hopper A to the wheel to which is substantially vertical and tends to direct the calcium carbid on a line toward the outer side of the wheel to. The throat or opening from the hopper A into the chamber formed by'the frame s is controlled by the weighted hinged gate D, which has a normal tendency to close said throat or opening and is only opened by the action against said carbid of the wheel to during the rotation of the latter.

The action of the weighted gate D is to prevent any surplus quantity of calcium carbid from being fed to the chute T and to restrain the carbid upon the wheel w and permit the same to be fed to the machine by said wheel only in the limited quantities desired for the generation of the requisite amount of gas. The upper end of the hopper A is in the form of a hinged door, and hence said hopper may be opened to receive the calcium carbid in bulk and then closed. The upper end 0 of the frame 8 is likewise in the form of a hinged door, which may be opened and closed at will, and hence the action of the feed-wheel w and gate D may be inspected at will. Upon the outer side of the frame s is also provided for convenience of inspection and of removal of the feed-wheel a hinged door E. Upon the outer side of the section B of the casing A and. adjacent to the lower portions of the feed-chute T is provided the vertically-elongated glass panel G, through which the contents of the generator-tank may be inspected and through which also the ebullition created by the conversion of the calcium carbid into the gas may be observed. The glass panel G enables the attendant to observe the condition and action of the water within the main casing A, and thus serves as an accurate means for indicating whether the generatortank is in proper operative condition and when it is necessary or desirable to withdraw the sediment and water from said tank and clean the latter.

The wheel to is formed with the longitudinal projections having the tangential faces H and I of the character illustrated, and it has been found that whenthewheel w is formed with the corresponding longitudinal projections of the character shown the wheel will not only not become clogged, but may be relied upon to feed substantially uniform quantities of the calcium carbid to the feedchute T.

While the present invention is not limited in every instance to the special form of the wheel to shown in Fig. 2, a part of the invention is so limited, and this part of the invention is deemed to be of special importance in that thereby great reliability in thefeedin g of the proper quantities of the calcium carbid is assured.

We also provide means for preventing any particles of the calcium carbid from entering between the ends of the feed-wheel w and the sides of the inclosing frame .9, and these means are more particularly illustrated in Fig. 2 and consist of a disk w, secured to each end of the wheel w and being of greater diameter than said wheel 10, and of the cheekpieces 10, which project downward from the inner walls of the upper contracted end of the frame 8 and have curved lower edges. The upper contracted end of the frame 8 has the opposite walls 8, which set inward from the main side walls of the frame 3, and thus below said walls 8 are formed offsets, within which the disks w on the ends of the feedwheel to are housed and rotate. The check pieces 20 being set inward by reason of the inwardly-contracted walls 8 prevent any particles of the calcium carbid from getting between the disks w and the adjacent walls of the frame 5.

A further portion of the invention relates to the means intermediate the feed-wheel w and the gasometer J, whereby the latter may be relied upon to actuate at the proper time and to the proper extent the wheel in to feed the calcium carbid to the generator-tank, and this portion of the invention is not limited to the special feed-wheel w, but comprises any feed-wheel adapted to be operated by the means constituting this portion of the invention and located intermediate the feed-wheel and the gasometer. The mechanism constituting this portion of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and comprises a chain or flexible connection J, positively secured at one end to the gasometer J, and thence extending upward over the pulleys K L, and thence downward to the outer end of the lever M, which is swiveled upon the end of the shaft 1, carrying the feed-wheel w. The lever M is provided with the springpawl' N, which is in engagement with the ratchetswheel O, secured upon the shaft t. The lever M is heavier at its outer end, to which the chain J is secured, and hence will descend at that end of its own weight until arrested by the rigid stop P, which defines the limit of the downward movement the end of the lever M shall have. When the end of the lever M is descending of its own weight to the stop P, the pawl N will simply slide over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 0 without rotating the latter, and consequently without rotating the shaft 6 and feed-wheel w. \Vhen, however, the outer end of the lever M is elevated under the action of the chain J, the pawl N will engage'the teeth of the ratchetwheel 0 and cause the latter to have a definite revolving motion in one direction, and at such time this revolving motion of the ratchetwheel 0 will be communicated, through the shaft 15, to the feed-wheel w, and thus the feed.- wheel w will be caused at such period to feed a limited quantity of the calcium carbid to the feed-chute T. The chain J has a fixed connection at one end with the gasometer J and at the other end with the outer portion of the lever M, and that portion of the chain J intermediate the pulley-wheel L and the lever M is preferably provided with the weight Q, which will preserve the chain in a taut condition over the pulleys K L. It is to be observed, however, that the chain J is of such length that it is not taut throughoutits entire length except at the definite period when the gasometer J is reaching and at on leaving its lower position and it becomes necessary to elevate the outer end of the lever M for the purpose of causing the pawl N to rotate the ratchet-wheelO and feed-wheel w. In the condition of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it maybe assumed that the gasometer J is either ascending or descending. If it is assumed that the gasometer J (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is ascending, it will he observed that in the natural operation of the weight Q the chain J will be by said Weight drawn over the pulley-wheels K and L and will hang downward in a slackened condition adjacent to the outer end of the lever M. On the other hand, if it be assumed that the gasometer J, due to the consumption of the gas, is descending it will be apparent that the weight of the gasometer J will draw on the chain J, and finally when nearly to its lowest position will by moving all of the slack from said chain draw the latter to a taut condition from the gasometer to the lever M, and thereupon during the final descending movement of the gasometer J the motion of the latter, bycontinuing to pull on the chain J, will efiect a limited upward movement of the outer end of the lever M for the purpose thereby of elfecting alimited revoluble motion of the ratchetwheel 0' and the feed-wheel w, the latter being thus caused to feed a proper quantity of the calcium carbid to the chute T. Thus it will be understood that the chain J is never taut except during the final portion of the descending motion of the gasometer J and possibly during the first upward portion of the motion of the gasometer J, the chain being then held taut by the weight of the lever M until the latter has descended to and become arrested by the stop P. It is one of the purposes of this portion of the invention to prevent the gasometer, through the chain J, from acting on the feed-wheel w at any time other than during the final portion of the downward motion of the gasometer J and to provide such actuating means intermediate the gasometer J and the feed-wheel w that the latter may remain entirely idle except during the latter portion of the descending motion of the gasometer and then be actuated bya reasonably quick motion and only during a limited portion of the movement of the gasometer.

The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described has been substantially pointed out in connection with the description of the construction of the apparatus. The calcium carbid in bulk will be placed within the hopper A, and the water will be supplied to the generator-tank, the trap j, the'blow-ofi valve or governor F, and the auxiliary tank I. The water supplied to the auxiliary tank I is simply for the purpose of sealing the gasometer J, and the water supplied to the main casing exterior to the tank I is for the purpose of converting the calcium carbid into the gas, and this water, as hereinbefore described, will fill the generator-tank up to the level of the horizontal partition 17. In first starting the apparatus into actual operation a portion of the carbid will be manually fed to the chute T; but thereafter the feeding of the carbid to the chute 'T will be accomplished automatically by the movement of the gasometer J. The gas generated *within the tank formed by the casing A will ascend to the chamber above the horizontal partition I) and enter the dome h, whence it will descend through the pipe 2' into the chamber formed by the frame 70, and thence descend around the lower edges of the sides of said frame and after passing through the water contained in the trap j will pass upward through the opening S and into the vertical cylinder P, from which the gas will pass directly through the filtering media Q and into the gasometer J, whence it will be fed to the burners by means of the pipe q. The automatic feeding of the carbid t0 the feed-chute T is accomplished from the gasometer J by means of the chain J lever M, pawl N, ratchet-wheel O, shaft t, and feed-wheel w, and, as above described, in the operation of this part of the apparatus the feed-wheel w is maintained entirely idle except during the latter portion of the downward motion of the gasometer, at which time the gasometer, having then drawn the chain J taut, will on its final movement downward elevate the weighted end of the lever M and through the intermediate mechanism above described effect a limited motion of the wheel w, and thereby cause said wheel to carry a limited quantity of the calcium carbid to a position in which it will be left unsupported and be allowed to fall directly into the chute T and be by said chute di rected into the water contained within the generator-tank. The carbid is directed to the wheel w through the substantially vertical throat and from a hopper having an inclined base, and thereby the bulk of the carbid is largely supported within the hopper and is prevented from having a tendency to leave the hopper with undue speed. That portion of the body of the carbid which is allowed to pass through the throat leading from the hopper A is supported upon the wheel to and is retarded in its outward movement by the weighted gate D in its operation and simply presses against and upon the carbid,

leaving the hopper A by gravity and prevents the carbid from moving with undue freedom over the wheel to.

The scraper-blade M, having the handle or wheel N, is'for the purpose of removing the lime or other deposits from the bottom of that part of the tank A within the influence of the scraper. The withdrawal of the lime and other products, as Well as the water, from the generator-tank will be readily accomplished by opening the valve L and permitting the entire contents of the generator-tank, with the exception of a small quantity of water held by the plate d, to escape. That portion of the water held by the plate d becomes of importance, especially when thevalve L is opened, since it will effectually seal the gas within the upper end of the section B of the casing A, and thereby prevent the escape of the gas with the water. The employment of the trap j is of advantage in that thereby the gas passing into the cylinder P becomes more thoroughly diffused, and said trap prevents the return of the gas from the gasometer J and cylinder P into the generator-tank under any conditions in which it mightbe desired to open the valve L and cleanse the generator-tank. l

The general form and construction of the exterior casing subdivided by the partitions G 1-1 into the generator-tank and auxiliary tank, the latter to receive the gasometer, are of advantage, since thereby a very compact structure having the maximum capacity for the generation of gas is produced.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the exterior casing comprising the connected sections B, O, subdivided by the partitions G, H, into the generator-tank and the auxiliary tank, combined with the gasometer adapted to said auxiliary tank, the vertical cylinder within said auxiliary tank and having the filter at its upper end, the gas-conducting pipe leading from the top of said section B to the lower end of said cylinder, and the pipe leading from the gasometer to the burners, said auxiliary tank being supplied with water for sealing the gasometer, and the generator-tank comprising the section B and a portion of the section 0 and being also supplied with water {substantiallyas set forth. 2. In an apparatus of the character described, the main casing comprising the sections B, O, subdivided by the partitions G, H, into the generator-tank and the auxiliary tank, combined with the gasometer adapted to said auxiliary tank, the cylinder within said tank and having the filter at its upper end, the seal-trap at the lower end of said cylinder and communicating therewith, the gas-conducting pipe leading from the upper end of the section B to said seal-trap, and the pipe leading from said gasometer to the burners; substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the exterior casing comprising the sections B, O, subdivided by the partitions G, H, into the generator-tank and the auxiliary tank, combined with the gasometer adapted to said auxiliary tank, the scraper-blade upon the base of said casing below said partition II, the feed-chute leading into said section 13, means for conveying the generated gas from the upper end of said section B to said gasometer, and means for conducting the gas from said gasometer to the burners, the lower end of said section Bbeing in the form of an inverted cone and provided with the outletvalve L; substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasom eter, the seal-tank therefor, the generator-tank, and means for feeding the carbid to the water within said generatortank, combined with the partition adjacent to the upper end of said generator-tank, the deflector-plate connected with said partition, the upwardlyextending plate cooperating with said deflector-plate to form a water seal and hold a definite quantity of water when the main body of the water is withdrawn from said generator-tank, and means for conducting the generated gas from the upper end of said section B to the gasometer; substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasometer, the seal-tank therefor, the generator-tank having the outlet at its lower end, the feed-chute leading into said generator-tank, the partition adjacent to the upper portion of said gene1*ator-tank,tl1e plate cooperating with said partition to form a water seal, and the circulating-pipe extending downward from said partition, combined with means for conducting the gas from the upper end of said generator-tank to the gasometer; substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasometer, the seal-tank therefor, and the generator-tank having the valved outlet at its lower end, combined with the feed-chuteleading to said generator-tank, the partition adjacent to the upper end of said generator-tank, the outlet-valve leading from below said partition to the exterior of the apparatus, the plate cooperating with said partition to form a water seal and hold water when the outlet at the lower end of the generator-tank is opened, and means for conducting the gas from the upper end of said generator-tank to the gasometer; substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasometer, the seal-tank therefor, the generator-tank having the valved outlet at its lower end, the feed-chute leading into said generator-tank, the partition adjacent to the upper end of said generator-tank and on the line of the water-level therein, a plate cooperating with said partition to form the water seal and hold water, the outlet-valve f leading from below said partition, and the downwardly-extending circulating-pipe leading from the upper to the lower side of said partition, combined with means for leading the gas from the upper side of said partition to the gasometer; substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasometer, the seal-tank therefor, the generator-tank having the valved outlet at its lower end, and the feed-chute leading into said generator-tan k, combined with the partition adjacent to the upper end of said generator-tank, the plate cooperating with said partition to form a water seal, the dome upon said generator-tank, and the pipe passing from said dome for conducting the gas therefrom to the gasometer;substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and-the water seal for said gasometer, combined with the cylinder P within said gasometer and having the filter at its upper end and the partition II at its lower end, the trap j secured to the said partition 11 and at its upper end being open and in line with the opening S at the base of said cylinder, the frame mounted within said trap j and having the top and the sides whose lower edges are below the water-level in said trap j and above the bottom of said trap, and the pipe for conducting the gas from the generator to within the chamber formed by said frame 7.: and above the water-level in said trap j, whereby the gas after filling said chamber is compelled to pass downward below the lower edges of said frame and thence upward through the trap j and the water therein, and then upward through said cylinder P and said filter to the gasometer; substantially as set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and the feed-wheel for feeding the carbid to said generator-tank, combined with the ratchet-wheel on the shaft of said feed-wheel, the lever-arm M loosely hung upon said shaft and having the pawl N to cooperate with said ratchet, the chain J connected at one end to the central portion of the top of said gasometer and at the other end positively fastened to the outer end of said lever-arm M, the elevated pulleys K, L, over which said chain passes, the intermediate weight Q applied to the vertical stretch of said chain extending from the outer pulley L to the end of said lever-arm M for causing all slackness in said chain to be formed into a loop about said lever-arm, and the stop P for limiting the downward motion of said lever-arm M, the length of said chain being such that when the gasometer has reached its upper position said chain will hang loosely in the form of a loop below said stop P and below the lower position of said lever-arm M, and that when said gasometer is reaching its lower position the slack or loop in said chain will be taken up and said chain will then be caused to exert a direct force upon said lever-arm M to operate said feed-wheel; substantiallyas set forth. 7

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, the feed-chute leading into the side of the generator-tank and below the water-level therein, the feed-wheel w mounted upon the horizontal shaft, and the casing leading to said feed-chute and inclosing said feed-wheel, said casing snugly conforming to one side of said wheel and leaving the other side thereof free or exposed, combined with the hopper for the carbid located above said feed-wheel and supplying the latter with carbid, means for retarding the passage of the carbid over the exposed side of said feed-whee1,and means for operating said feed-wheel from the gasometer, said feed-wheel comprising the series ofcorresponding horizontal projections havin g the tangential faces H, I, of the character shown and described, for moving the carbid outward so that it may fall over the exposed side of the said wheel and then into said feed-chute and be, by the latter, conducted into the side of the generator-tank below the water-level therein; substantially as set forth.

12. In a machine of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and the feed-chute leading into the side of the generator-tank and below the water-level therein, combined with the feed-Wheel mounted upon the horizontal shaft above said feedchute, the casing inclosing said feed-wheel and conforming to the, outline of one side only thereof, leaving the other side of said feedwheel free or exposed, the hopper for the carbid located above said feed-Wheel and having the inclined'bottom and the substantially vertical throat located adjacent to the vertical center of said feed-Wheel, means for retarding the passage of the carbid through said substantially vertical throat, and means for operating said feed-Wheel from the gasometer, the said inclined bottom of said hopper being at one side only of the latter and joining that side of said casing which conforms to the side of said feed-wheel; substantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and the Water seal therefor, combined with the feed-chute for supplying the generatortank, the partition 1) adjacent to the upper end of the generator-tank and having the downwardly-deflecting plate a, the upwardly-extending plate d cooperating with said plate 0, the outlet-valve f below said partition 1), and means for conducting the gas from above said partition b to the gasometer; substantially as set forth. I 14. In an apparatus of the character described, the gasometer, the water seal therefor, and the generator-tank having the downwardly and inwardly inclined lower walls and provided with the outletvalve,-combined with the feed-chute leading into said generatortank and having the downwardly and inwardly inclined wall V, the separated sides W, the downwardly and outwardly inclined plate X connecting said sides at their upper portions, and the opening (1 intermediate said plate X and the side of the generator-tank, the delivery end of said feed-chute being substantially above said outlet-valve; substantially as set forth.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator tank, the auxiliary tank, the gasometer Within said auxiliary tank, the cylinder within said auxiliary tank and leading into said gasometer, combined with the Water-seal trap at the base of said cylinder, the pipe leading from the upper end of the generator-tank to said water-seal trap, and the pipe m leading from said water-seal trap to the exterior of the casing and having a water seal 19, plug 0 and valve 71.; substantially as set forth.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and the feed-chute leading to the generatortank, combined with a feed-wheel mounted upon the horizontal shaft above said feedchute, the casing inclosing said feed-wheel and conforming to one side thereof, the hopper above said feed-wheel and having the outlet-throat above said feed-Wheel, the hinged gate acting against the carbid issuing through said throat, and means for actuating said feedwheel from the gasometer substantially as set forth.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, the gasometer, and the feed-chute leading to said generatortank, combined with the frame 3 connected with the upper end of said feed-chute, the horizontal feed-Wheel w in said frame 8, the hopper for feeding the calcium carbid to said feed-Wheel, and means for operating said feedwheel from the gasometer, said feed-wheel having the end disks w and said frame 3 having the inwardly-set cheek-pieces w" to cooperate with said disks in preventing particles of the calcium carbid from entering between the ends of said feed-wheel and the adjacent walls of the frame 3; substantially as set forth.

Signed at NewYork, in the county and State of New York, this 8th day of October, A. D. 1898.

. JOSEPH N. GOLDBAOHER.

EUGENE BOURNONVILLE.

Witnesses:

CHAs- O. GILL, E. J 0s. BELKNAP. 

